Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Is This A Gluten Problem?

WHYNOT

Recommended Posts

WHYNOT Newbie
WHYNOT
Posted

My husband has had indigestive problems ever since I have known him. (30 yrs) In the past few years he has noticed his indigestion seems to be related to eating bread (any flour product), pasta and cheese.

If he eats even a simple PB&J for dinner, he can't sleep due to stomach pains.

Pepcid helps some. Tums helps some.

He has none of the other symptoms we have read about, so we are trying to relate it to a gluten-intolerance?

(He also gets acid reflux with spicy foods)

Can anyone advise?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

has he been tested for Celiac? If not, he should be, he should continue to eat gluten while testing, and then, regardless of the test results, after all testing is done, he should try the gluten free diet as that is THE most reliable diagnostic tool. Yes it sounds like it could be celiac or gluten intolerance, and some people don't have any of the typical symptoms, so lack of other symptoms is not important.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

It could be celiac, or a wheat allergy. Either way, he should be tested (while he's still eating the offending foods.)

CMCM Rising Star
CMCM
Posted
My husband has had indigestive problems ever since I have known him. (30 yrs) In the past few years he has noticed his indigestion seems to be related to eating bread (any flour product), pasta and cheese.

If he eats even a simple PB&J for dinner, he can't sleep due to stomach pains.

Pepcid helps some. Tums helps some.

He has none of the other symptoms we have read about, so we are trying to relate it to a gluten-intolerance?

(He also gets acid reflux with spicy foods)

Can anyone advise?

Here's what I think: With all the growing knowlege about celiac disease and its prevalence in the general population (perhaps as high as 1 in 100 people), for any sort of digestive problem it is a wise and good idea to test for celiac or gluten sensitivity (same spectrum of reaction, but gluten sensitivity is designated as celiac disease when, thru a biopsy, intestinal damage is seen).

Remember that symptoms of celiac/gluten sensitivity range from ZERO symptoms across a whole gamut of things which are usually diagnosed as other things, i.e. asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, reflux, heartburn...the list is long, over 200 possible symptoms. Doctors do NOT seem to know this--they just look for the "classic" celiac patient described in a paragraph in one of their medical texts way back in medical school. Seriously! If you're not thin and wasting away, they won't consider it....despite the fact that most celiacs are either normal or OVERweight! Doctors don't know this either. The list of what doctors don't know or mistakenly believe about celiac disease is very long indeed. Unless you have or find a doctor who A) Has treated a bunch of celiac patients B) Has studied it a LOT on his/her own C) Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of celiac disease when you talk to him D) Understands the prevalence in society of celiac disease and is well versed with the huge variety of possible symptoms......then hide your wallet and go buy a bunch of books so you can educate yourself in a way your doctor will not educate himself. Elsewhere on this forum I posted links to 5 books that are valuable reading. The most important one is below, as a start.

If your husband has had digestive problems for 30 years (!!!!), and he has now zeroed in on certain foods which he feels cause the symptoms, I'll bet he's right about it. And look at you....you've found this site somehow, which will be very helpful in a way in which the odds are, your doctor will NOT.

Your husband could find out, like I did, that my reactions (very much like your husband's) were caused by both gluten AND dairy, and as soon as I cut them both out of my diet I feel great very quickly. I spent my entire life (56 years so far) with lots of digestive distress, asthma symptoms, pain when I ate certain things, muscle aches....and it ALL started to diminish within a few days of eliminating gluten and dairy. (Not everyone has a problem with both gluten and dairy, but many do). Also, people generally have multiple allergies rather than just one, so you've got to search for more than one cause in most cases.

Do some reading....I suggest this book to start with, and you can find it on amazon. There are several other very good ones too, including a brand new one by Dr. Peter Green called "Celiac Disease...A Hidden Epidemic." But read Dangerous Grains first, it's very very enlightening.

Dangerous Grains by James Braly and James Hoggan $9.72

Open Original Shared Link

floridanative Community Regular
floridanative
Posted

I presented out of the blue at 41 with anemia.....then very infrequently had the following symptoms over the course of the last year before my Celiac dx.

abdominal pain/bloating (looked 6 months pregnant)

nausea when eating

severe stomach aches (could not stand up straight)

*all gone now off gluten 6 weeks

And during last month pre dx I also

fell down my own stairs several times

ran into door jambs and corners of counters

repeated dropped things with no explanation

had dizzy spells (had to sit down for 30 mintues)

*these are almost completely gone now and were due to B12 deficiency which if bad enough can cause sserious neurological problems, mostly reversible if caught early enough

lgleeson Newbie
lgleeson
Posted

I would definitely get checked. Heartburn was my only symptom when I went to the gastroenterologist. Luckily, he did an endoscopy and checked for celiac. And that was what I had!

WHYNOT Newbie
WHYNOT
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for all this info. He just read the replies. I think for now he wants to try to stick with a diet change.

So we need to study that.

He wants to know if he gets tested, do they give you drugs so you can eat wheat (normal?)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
He wants to know if he gets tested, do they give you drugs so you can eat wheat (normal?)

No, sadly. There is no antedote for gluten. It's an intolerance, and an autoimmune disorder. There is no cure and only one treatment, adherence to a gluten-free diet for life.

Claire Collaborator
Claire
Posted

If you have an endoscopy they will pick up stomach issues like ulcers, gastritis, etc. while that tube in 'on the way down'. Two birds with one stone, so to speek. Claire

WHYNOT Newbie
WHYNOT
Posted
  • Author

Is there some alternatives that don't cause as much pain? Like eating oat grain bread? Or vegetable pasta? Or soy cheese products?

Any suggestions for a webpage to get the cliff notes on diet changes?

Thanks!

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Is there some alternatives that don't cause as much pain? Like eating oat grain bread? Or vegetable pasta? Or soy cheese products?

Any suggestions for a webpage to get the cliff notes on diet changes?

Thanks!

You need to stay away from oats also. Look for bread that says Gluten Free not just wheat free. It can be made from tapioca, rice, or another non-gluten grain. Pasta can be made from rice or the one I like best is Ancient Harvest Corn and Quiona. If you go to the home page for this site they have a list of allowed and not allowed food ingredients.

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

just google "gluten free diet" and you will come up with all kinds of info

I do have a "newbie survival kit" which is a compilation of files I wish I had when I was first diagnosed. It's in a zip file, if you would like it e-mailed to you just e-mail me at nisla@comcast.net and put "request newbie survival kit" in the subject line.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Theresa2407
      - Theresa2407 replied to Theresa2407's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      2

      Probiotics

      thank you for your advice. I have always taken them and I use Stonehedge because they are in a glass bottle, but don't have to be refrigerated. I also like they are 3rd party tested and state gluten free. But you never know if something better has come alone over the years.
    2. KathyR37
      - KathyR37 replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      New here

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to KathyR37's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      New here

      What you've described—the severe weight loss, the cycle of medications making things worse, and the profound fear of eating before leaving the house—is a heavy burden to carry for 15 years. It is absolutely not your fault. While everyone's journey with celiac is different, the struggles with the learning curve, social isolation, and dietary grief are fee...
    4. KathyR37
      - KathyR37 posted a topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      2

      New here

      I am new here but celiac disease is not new to me. I was diagnosed with it at age 60. At the time I weighed a whopping 89 pounds. I was so ignorant to celiac so I buried myself in learning all about it and looking for food I could eat. I lost so much weight and stayed sick all the time. So to combat the sickness I was give all sorts of meds for loose bowels...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      3

      Celiac attack confusion and anxiety

      This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,808
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    mhendy123
    Newest Member
    mhendy123
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Theresa2407
      Probiotics

      By Theresa2407 · Posted

      thank you for your advice.   I have always taken them and I use Stonehedge because they are in a glass bottle, but don't have to be refrigerated.  I also like they are 3rd party tested and state gluten free. But you never know if something better has come alone over the years.
    • KathyR37
      New here

      By KathyR37 · Posted

      Thank you for your response. I have already learned about the info you sent but i appreciate your effort. I am the only one in my family cursed by this disease. I have to cook for them too. I make sure that my utensils are free of gluten and clean after using them for other food. I use non-porous pots and pans and  gloves when cooking for them. One huge problem I have is a gag reflex out of this world and if something doesn't taste good it is not going down. Most commercially made breads and such taste like old cardboard.Pastas are about the same. I did find one flour that I like and use it regularly, but it is so expensive! All gluten free food is way more expensive. I only eat twice a day because I cannot afford to buy all that. We live on a very low income so my food purchases are quite limited.
    • Scott Adams
      New here

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you've described—the severe weight loss, the cycle of medications making things worse, and the profound fear of eating before leaving the house—is a heavy burden to carry for 15 years. It is absolutely not your fault. While everyone's journey with celiac is different, the struggles with the learning curve, social isolation, and dietary grief are feelings many in the community know all too well. Your question about whether you should just eat what you want and manage the symptoms is a heartbreaking one, born from years of frustration. It's crucial to know that the diarrhea is a sign of ongoing damage to your small intestine from gluten, and simply managing the symptom with Imodium doesn't stop that internal harm or the risk of other complications. The fact that you are still getting sick within an hour of eating, even while trying to be gluten-free, is a huge red flag that something isn't right. This could be due to cross-contamination in your kitchen (e.g., using a shared toaster, colander, or condiment jars), hidden gluten in foods, or the possibility of another concurrent condition like refractory celiac disease. Don't give up!  This article has some detailed information on how to be 100% gluten-free, so it may be helpful (be sure to also read the comments section.):    
    • KathyR37
      New here

      By KathyR37 · Posted

      I am new here but celiac disease is not new to me. I was diagnosed with it at age 60. At the time I weighed a whopping 89 pounds. I was so ignorant to celiac so I buried myself in learning all about it and looking for food I could eat. I lost so much weight and stayed sick all the time. So to combat the sickness I was give all sorts of meds for loose bowels and vomiting. All that just made me sicker. Eventually I chucked it all and went back to eating like I had all my life. Now I am from the south and biscuits and gravy are a big part of our food, as are breaded foods, pasta, and sandwich bread. Through the years I would try to do the gluten free thing again and am doing it now. It has not helped any. Within and hour of eating I have to run to the bathroom. I am now 75 and am wondering if I should just forget it and eat what I like, take Immodium and live the best I can. I cannot eat before going anywhere for fear of embarrassing myself. Family and church dinners are out of the question unless I eat and run straight home. I am so frustrated I just want to sit down and cry or throw something. Does everyone go through all this?
    • Scott Adams
      Celiac attack confusion and anxiety

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This article, and the comments below it, may be helpful:    
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.